The Ancient Paths - Path I

[ae1vart0n]

Hildor tries to listen to the conversation, making out what he can before going outside. In any case it was refreshing to see another elf in the group.

He unceremoniously sniffs his armpits and decides he could put off cleaning a little longer. Looking around he sees the dwarves hard at work rebuilding shops and repairing their own equipment. Looking at his own weopons he decides his could use some upkeep as well, and starts looking for a decent smith.

 

[Legildur]

When he met up with Dowkan in the morning he placed the heavy axe on the table in front of the dwarf with a soft clunk. "This axe as you know belonged to my servant. He kept us alive with it. Since it is clear that you are the obvious replacement for that, you are charged with doing this as well for as long as you wield it."

Dowkan keeps chewing his tough breakfast as the arrogant wizard sits down across from him. But his jaw stops moving as he lays the waraxe heavily across the table. The dwarf listens as Nae'talis tells his story. Usually he would have made some caustic remark about a dwarf being a servant, but the lure of magical waraxe has distracted him. "With this," starts Dowkan, gesturing with his head at the axe lying between them, "Ya and ya friends have bought more loyalty from me than any gold coulda done." The dwarf then grasps the axe previously wielded by Belgal. "Ah, my beauty. We'll cleave many a skull with you!"

He sat down next to the dwarf and lowered his voice considerably as he added, "Despite the fact that we are completing tasks for them. the church has many spies. Do not think I have ruled out the possibility of you being one as well, but any others that may play voyeur on us may get the wrong idea if they continue to see me keep my hold on this axe. They also should continue to think you are my hired hand as well. Be careful with who you reveal otherwise to. May you do honor to this weapon besides."

"I be nobody's spy," Dowkan hisses quietly and spits on the floor in emphasis. "But I see your point about 'appearances'. And any dwarf worth his blood would do this axe proud. Have no fear of that!"

 

[Majin]

Nae'talis nods once, regally. He plans to sit in silence unless somehow disturbed.

 

[Legildur]

Syrriel watches the Justiciar leave and then turns to the group relaxing on her floor."Well?"

"Well what?" Dowkan retorts, still munching on some hard tack as he wipes his mouth with his sleeve. "Ask 'im," he adds, pointing with an elbow in the direction of Nae'talis. "I just do what he says."

 

[Dhes]

Hrolf rises from his meditation as lady Syrriel steps into the small hovel that was there night shelter. With Dowkan already indicating Nae’talis as speaker, Hrolf stays silent with hands folded.

 

[Majin]

Pausing to take in the attractive female bard a moment, Nae'talis rises slowly and adjusts his silk scarf, tossing a stray end over his shoulder before burying his hands into the voluminous sleeves of his robe.

"It appears that our charge has been passed unto you, fair maiden. What is it you wish of us?" he flourishes, a hint of patronization barely audible in his voice, but placed cleverly enough that the mage was certain a woman of Syrriel's supposed skills at intonation and speech could easily pick up on. This might be interesting, the young wizard muses. Bards are generally sufficient intellectual company. Let's see if she gets the joke...

 

[hippocrachus]

~ The Adventurers ~

Syrriel eyes Hildor appraisingly as he walks past her into the open air. She makes sure he sees her agitated look as he passes.
"I don't like you," she states bluntly to Nae'talis after turning back to the three sprawled around her quarter's floor, "but I assume Braggi has a better use for you here in Silverdown than manual labor, so I'll put up with you, Nae'talis of Thay."
She gives the wizard a smug half-smirk. It must be quite disconcerting to the young mage that everyone and their ancestors knew who and what he was despite all of his efforts to hide it. She looks at Dowkan once.
"Lose one and gain another, I see. You Thayans have no respect for life." Her expression makes it seem like it cannot be helped. "The Justiciars seem to think you might be able to provide us with critical information concerning the enemy. I'm very busy, so if you can't make yourself useful, I'd like to have my private quarters back."

~ Hildor ~

Hildor slinks by Syrriel unconcerned and finds the clanging sounds of what must be a smithy immediately across the street from Syrriel's quarters.
Walking over, he finds a familiar dwarven face barking orders at two other dwarves and a young man who probably traveled with the Tyrran legion. Sunder looks over from pointing the two dwarves carrying an anvil between them to where he wanted it placed.
"What're ya gawkin' at, elf?" he says gruffly. "Yer toothpick arms ain't fer smithin' and I ain't got a need fer an errand boy."

 

[Legildur]

Dowkan muffles a laugh as Syrriel speaks her mind. He raises an eyebrow. 'A Thayan wizard, heh' he thinks. "No one LIKES 'im!" Dowkan adds with a laugh. "But he pays well enough for me. Now, if ya be wantin' your quarters back, then I see one of two things happenin'. Either Harad sends us on our way for whatever job he has in mind for us."

"Or you share it with us. There's room enough," he adds with a leer.

 

[hippocrachus]

~ The Adventurers ~

Syrriel brushes a strand of yellow bangs from her face and glares at Dowkan.
"Harad is not in charge here. I am. See that you remember it, mercenary." She uses the word with less spite than most. "The way I see it: you can either make yourself useful or make yourself scarce."
She seems to straighten her back expectantly. Whether she expects them to challenge her authority or expects them to cooperate is not clear.

 

[Legildur]

Dowkan simply grins insolently for a few moments before slowly standing. "Tell ya what. I'll go one better and do both! Best you point me in the right direction as I'm bored and more than happy to help me brothers while we wait for whatever it is we are waitin' on."

[SBLOCK=OOC]Dowkan has got no skills to speak of. Only a strong back.[/SBLOCK][SBLOCK=Majin, Dhes, ae1vart0n]The OOC thread lists some treasure found, which includes an unidentified wooden shield. Is anyone using that? If not, Dowkan gladly would as he currently uses a heavy wooden shield.[/SBLOCK]